slight

slight (on somebody/something)an act or a remark that criticizes something or offends somebodysynonyminsultNick took her comment as a slight on his abilities as a manager.Word OriginMiddle English; the adjective from Old Norsesléttr

‘smooth’

(an early sense in English), of Germanic origin; related to Dutchslechts

‘merely’

and Germanschlicht

‘simple’

, schlecht

‘bad’

; the verb (originally in the sense ‘make smooth or level’), from Old Norseslétta. The sense “treat with disrespect” dates from the late 16th cent.